Cheap Train Travel

madie asked:


I need help on how to start off on my DAR essay. I’m going as a Chinese worker for the railroad,and making it as a letter to my “family” back in China.
The essay is Describe how you felt on May 10, 1869 when the golden spike was driven at Promontory Summit, Utah to celebrate the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad. Pretend you are either a settler planning to use the train to travel to your new home in the west, an Irish or Chinese worker who helped build the line, or a Native American whose way of life was greatly affected by the railroad. Please help me! >_<

GreasyTony asked:


….so more Americans are aware of what Immigrants actually go through to get here? I know that most that live their lives pushing against illegal immigration and immigration bills have little compassion for these human lives…..even towards children. So do you think it’ll make a slight impact?

http://www.hbo.com/docs/docuseries/whichwayhome/index.html
Which Way Home

Each year, thousands of Latin American migrants travel hundreds of miles to the United States, with many making their way on the tops of freight trains. Roughly five percent of those traveling alone are children. As the United States continues to debate immigration reform, the documentary WHICH WAY HOME looks the issue through the eyes of children who face the harrowing journey with enormous courage and resourcefulness.

An official selection at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival and the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival, WHICH WAY HOME follows several unaccompanied child migrants as they journey through Mexico en route to the U.S. on a freight train called “The Beast.” Putting a human face on the immigration issue, director Rebecca Cammisa (the CINEMAX documentary “Sister Helen”) reveals some of the reasons kids resort to drastic and dangerous measures, among them: bringing an end to long-term separation from their parents; escaping life on the streets; lack of jobs or educational opportunities at home; and hopes of a better life north of the border.

Markie asked:


Essay Topic: describe how you felt on may 10,1869 when the golden spike was driven at promontory summit, utah to celebrate the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad. Pretend you are either a settler planning to use the train to travel to your new home in the West, an irish or chinese worker who helped build the line or a native american whose way of life was greatly affected by the railroad.

Im gonna be a native american, so i dont know haha. i need some help.

Seth D asked:


For curiosity’s sake I just checked online what it would cost to travel from Minneapolis to New York by both train and airplane. On Amtrak it would cost about $349 round trip traveling for 28 hours each way and on an airplane it would cost $172 round trip and you would arrive the same day. I also checked what it would cost from Minneapolis to Chicago and it would cost $106 by train traveling eight hours each way or it would cost $115 by airplane with a very short flight, albeit with some lead time necessary for check in and baggage claim. MY POINT IS THIS: Why would anyone pay the same price or more to use such a slow mode of transportation? It is no wonder that more Americans don’t use mass transit and are so car-centric: if you want them to use other means of transportation it has to make financial sense for them!

SDR asked:


I’ll be an 18 years old next summer, and I will be traveling through Western Europe. It will be my second time in Europe, and I know French fairly well. I want to go from the area around Nice, France to Crans-Montana, Switzerland. What are some good ways of going from one to the other, but I’m not sure of means of travel besides train. Also, what are the requirements for an American to rent and drive a car in Europe.

lil sammy asked:


Hello,
We are 2 American women age 30 who live in Phuket Thailand. We have one month holiday in July and thought about taking a long train trip around to see some things in the countries above. Anything you would strongly advise we see or stay away from? Places to stay or great food or markets?
We don’t have a really low budget, but can’t afford top resorts, either. Sort of middle of the road stuff.
Any tips greatly appreciated.
Thank you We would fly to Bangkok and start from there.

blueworld asked:


Ok here is the thing,on december for Christmas I would like to go to Paraguay to meet my in laws so we will go with my wife and my two babies and I’d hear allot of stuff about the crime in Paraguay,even the web of the USA embassy in Asuncion have a block about the security and they talk about the assaults, kidnappings, robberies, and ***** and now I know if is a good idea to go to meet my in laws at least this year. I mean I’m not worried about me,I’m more concerned about my babies and wife.
I never been in Paraguay before so I don’t know what to think, and my wife is not going there for more than 10 years because She was leaving in Argentina with her parents before she move to USA,and she had been living in USA for 7 years so I can not ask her.
Do you think is true that is that danger or is all exageration.Please I will appreciate to receive help from the people that has been in Paraguay or live there.

Here is the info that the embassy give you about the crime:

SAFETY AND SECURITY: As stated in the Department of State’s latest Worldwide Caution, U.S. citizens overseas may be targeted by extremist groups and should maintain a high level of vigilance. The U.S. Embassy is not aware of any specific terrorist threat to Americans in Paraguay. Individuals and organizations providing financial support to extremist groups operate in Ciudad del Este and along the tri-border area between Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina. Small armed groups have also been reported to be operating in the San Pedro and Concepcion Departments. Drug trafficking remains a serious concern in the Department of Amambay. Because of concerns about the lack of security in border areas, the U.S. Embassy in Asuncion requires U.S. Government personnel and their family members to provide advance notice and a travel itinerary when traveling to Ciudad del Este or Pedro Juan Caballero. As a general precaution, the Embassy also counsels its employees traveling outside the capital to provide an itinerary including dates, contact names, and telephone numbers where the employee may be reached.

Since January 2007, there have been numerous kidnapping incidents mainly in the Alto Parana department. Targets have been members of the Paraguayan business community or their family members. It is believed that the individuals responsible for the kidnappings are financially motivated and have pre-selected their targets based on the victims’ wealth.

U.S. citizens should avoid large gatherings or any other event where crowds have congregated to demonstrate or protest. Such activities have resulted in intermittent road closures including major routes traveled by tourists and residents. While generally nonviolent, demonstrations and/or roadblocks have turned violent in the past. Areas where such closures and barricades exist should be avoided. U.S. citizens who encounter demonstrations and/or roadblocks should not attempt to continue the planned travel or to confront those at the roadblock. Instead, they should avoid areas where individuals are demonstrating and in case of roadblock, wait for the road to reopen or return to the origin of their trip. Uniformed police often conduct roving checks of vehicles and passengers.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ website at http://travel.state.gov where the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, as well as the Worldwide Caution, can be found.

Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada, or for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad.

CRIME: Crime has increased in recent years with criminals often targeting those thought to be wealthy. Although most crime is nonviolent, there has been an increase in the use of weapons and there have been incidents where extreme violence has been used. U.S. citizens have on occasion been the victims of assaults, kidnappings, robberies, and *****. Local authorities frequently lack the training and resources to solve these cases. Under these circumstances, U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Paraguay should be aware of their surroundings and security at all times. They should take common sense precautions including refraining from displaying expensive-looking cameras and jewelry, large amounts of money, or other valuable items. Resistance to armed
Thanks blitzcrackunders.Do you live in Paraguay?

??? asked:


I really want to go somewhere in Africa and work with HIV/AIDS affected people or raise awareness of issues/sexuality education not only for their well-being but for my personal experience. In my search for organizations to do this I encountered several problems.

1. Most programs are set in larger cities where the problems probably aren’t the worst. The majority seem to be based in Accra, Ghana and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - both of which are large cities (by African standards). If the literacy rate is say 30%, I feel like these areas are the ones that pull up the numbers. I REALIZE these are safer and more convenient areas for foreigner travel.. but is it really doing the most good?

2. Which programs are legit? Some seem a little too sketch for me to go over as a 20 year old female by myself.. and others are just trying to empty my bank account. What good is spending 2 weeks in a country, while you pay an arm and a leg - for people to train and watch over you - when instead of having those people you could just have a few long-term volunteers?

3. What do the natives think of volunteers like that? I’m sure teaching and providing medical care - particularly in rural areas - for extended periods is looked upon highly, but what about people that come into the city for a few weeks and tell them to use a condom?

Besides these issues, I appreciate any insight anyone has. Thanks!

mike c asked:


Just seen it on the travel chanel and thought it would be an adventure. Anyone ever been on it and what can I expect, sleeping qtrs,meals,expensive,air condition,t.v.,Just tell me all you can. I’m speaking of the train trip across the west, arizona,grand canyon ect… anything you call tell me about it. thanks